The web site of the campus newspaper has a strange but true cartoon regarding this situation:
http://ogb.wfu.edu/editorials/editor...id=579_0_8_0_C
Chi Omega closure raises questions
This column represents the views of the Old Gold and Black Editorial Board
September 11, 2003
Last week’s vote by the Zeta Lambda chapter of Chi Omega sorority to return their charter came as a shock not only to the average student on campus, but also to both the university administration and the sorority sisters themselves.
Indeed, the decision and the events leading up to it appeared terribly rushed, and responsibility for this fact should rest on the shoulders of the Chi Omega national organization.
Although Chi Omega National had received reports of alleged violations of its Policy on Human Dignity and Hazing in early July, they made no effort to notify the university chapter or the administration of such allegations until a week before their arrival on campus. As a result, members of the chapter were left with no time to investigate or consider the matter themselves before facing an intimidating delegation of national representatives.
Additionally, the university administration was unable to conduct an investigation of its own, which could potentially have resulted in a more favorable, internal resolution of the matter.
Of course, the decision has not been finalized, as a revote has been scheduled in order to record votes and ensure input from members studying abroad. Should the decision be affirmed, however, those who will suffer the most will be the newest Chi Omega sisters on campus.
Due to the fact that membership in a sorority is considered to be a lifetime commitment, even those women who have been members for less than a semester will be unable to pursue potential affiliations with other sororities.
Because no one involved with the situation has detailed the exact nature of the chapter’s alleged violations, the Old Gold and Black cannot determine whether the decision to return its charter is ultimately a just one.
However, let this serve as a warning to other Greek organizations on campus: bending the rules of fair play can have very drastic consequences. When national organizations get involved, the university may not necessarily be able to step in to resolve disputes. And, as we have seen this week, a group’s very charter could be at stake.
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